Courses
Visual Art Concentration
This concentration, directed towards the practice of art, is broadly based in the studio areas of painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, and digital imaging. Courses in art history combine with these to frame the direction of the concentrator's work and give them skills in critical thinking. Students are encouraged to develop their own direction and to cultivate an informed and thoughtful individual perspective.
Requirements
The concentration program consists of thirteen courses.
Introductory Course Requirements (3 courses)
1. VISA0100 Studio Foundation or VA11 Advanced Studio Foundation
(does not count as one of the 7 studio concentration requirements; prerequisite for all studio and RISD courses)
2. VISA0120 Foundation Media: Sound and Image
3. HIAA0010, Introduction to the History of Art & Architecture, or HIAA2, or HIAA3
Unless waived these courses are concentration requirements .
Concentration Program Requirements
1. HIAA 88 or 89 Contemporary Art, should be taken by the first semester of the junior year.
2. Seven studio courses; a minimum of four studio courses must be taken at Brown University. One must be drawing.
3. One upper-level History of Art & Architecture course.
4. Elective (one course) which shall be in either History of Art & Architecture, Visual Art, Modern Culture & Media, approved related courses or acceptable RISD courses.
5. Senior Thesis Exhibition: which does not carry academic credit is required for graduation (usually presented during the seventh or eighth semester).
Graduation with Honors in Visual Art
Each year there are some students whose academic record has been outstanding, and who wish to integrate their studies in a special one-or two-semester project in order to graduate with Honors in visual art. Past recipients have combined their studies in this concentration with philosophy, religious studies, computer graphics, literature, and political interests; using the knowledge acquired in other fields of study to enrich their visual practice.
Applications will be received and reviewed by Visual Art faculty in April of the applicant's junior year.
Applications should include:
- An up to date academic transcript
(available at the Registrar's Office, and take about two weeks to process) - Projected list of courses to be taken
- Written description of the proposed project
- Samples of related studio work presented on one sheet of slides
(drawings, paintings, prints, sculpture, etc.)
The applicant must seek a faculty member who will act as an advisor. The student should work with the faculty member in formulating and developing their Honors proposal and the faculty member should sign off when the proposal is complete.
If the project is approved by the full faculty committee, the faculty sponsor will serve as the student's Honors advisor for the two semesters of the student's senior year. The advisor should sign this form, to be included with the application. The visual art faculty will rule on the admission to Honor's candidacy on the basis of academic and artistic excellence of work already completed with in the concentration program and on the feasibility and promise of the proposed project.
The fall semester honors students will register for Honors Seminar VA/180 Sec.06. This course will meet weekly for readings, discussions, and group critiques. Additionally there will be monthly trips to New York. During Semester II each student will continue with their honors project as an individual study project under the supervision of their faculty advisor. At the end of Semester II, honors candidates will be evaluated by the faculty who will make the recommendation for honors to the College Curriculum Council.
The project is a two semester enterprise and will count as two courses taken for graduation credit Semester I (VA/180 Sec.06, Semester II VA199), but will not count as 2 of the 10 courses needed for the visual art concentration.
Students that are planning to graduate in December must apply for Honors Dec. 5th of the previous year.
Candidates will be expected to meet with their advisors on a regular basis. At the end of the first semester of the project, the visual art faculty will review the progress of each candidate and determine whether the candidate will be allowed to continue the project.